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Green Chemistry
Green chemistry – also called sustainable chemistry – is a scientific philosophy that promotes goods and processes that don’t rely on the use or production of dangerous emissions or materials. Green or sustainable chemistry is different from environmental chemistry – which is the study of the chemistry of the natural environment and naturally occurring chemicals. In contrast, green chemistry is interested in the reduction and prevention of pollution.
Green chemistry is supported by government legislation in several countries including the United States where the Pollution Prevention Act was passed in 1990. Since the introduction of this innovative and forward-thinking bill, green chemistry has risen in importance as an effective method with which to prevent pollution and the manufacture of dangerous goods before they happen. Green chemistry seeks to eliminate pollution by introducing new scientific solutions to traditional industries. Green chemistry wants to remove or reduce pollution and contaminants without unduly hindering scientific progress.
Some areas where green chemistry is already influencing production include pesticides and insect repellent. The green company, EcoSMART is en route to creating a line of safest, more effective products with natural ingredients. One of the only American companies backed by the EPA, EcoSMART is developing a 100% safe line of household products based on plant-derived ingredients. The CEO of EcoSMART, Vern M. Kennedy, has a history of management in high-tech, venture capital funded startups and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton as well as an MBA from New York University.
EcoSMART hosts a Scientific Advisory Panel to collaborate on and initiate research and development projects, and patent strategy. Among the contributors to the panel are Roderick Bradbury, a prominent chemist and expert in pesticide production, Joel Coats, PhD, a Professor and Chair of Insecticide Toxicology and Environmental Toxicology at Iowa State University, and Harlan Feese, PhD, a biologist and Board Certified Entomologist.
Green chemists are in demand across the board, as more and more companies shift their practices to meet challenging new environmental standards. Companies want to move towards more environmentally responsible practices and so they require green chemists for innovation, compliance standards, and research. Recent recognition of the contribution of green chemistry was given to a group that developed a green organic-synthesis method used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries – for which they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2005)
Many industry leaders are aware of the shortage of well-trained green chemists and stress that highly skilled scientists of different disciplines with expansive and innovative ideas make very attractive candidates.
The growing influence of green chemistry is also reflected in President Obama’s recent decision to nominate the “Father of Green Chemistry”, Dr. Paul T. Anastas to head the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development as Assistant Administrator. Dr. Anastas is Director of the Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering and the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment at Yale University. Dr. Anastas trained as a synthetic organic chemist and is credited with coining the phrase “green chemistry” in 1991 during his term of Chief of the Industrial Chemistry Branch and Director of the US Green Chemistry Program of the EPA.
EDUCATION SIDEBAR: Currently, few universities offer chemistry degree programs designed specifically for green chemistry, but a few do and as the field expands the options will multiply. There are green chemistry degree programs offered at the Bachelor’s and Graduate levels at:
• The University of Oregon
• Yale University
• The University of Scranton
• The University of Massachusetts
• Carnegie Mellon University
In addition to specific degrees in green chemistry, there are opportunities in the field for scientists trained in various programs including:
• Bachelor and Graduate Degrees in Entomology; the scientific study of insect species, populations, life cycles, morphology, genetics, physiology, ecology, environmental and economic impacts
• Bachelor and Graduate Degrees in Biochemistry; the scientific study of the molecular makeup of the natural world, internal cell chemistry, molecular biology and macromolecular metabolism
• Bachelor and Graduate Degrees in related fields such as Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Zoology, Marine Biology, Chemistry
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